Death Stranding took players by surprise when it launched in 2019, serving up a bizarre post-apocalyptic world filled with haunting existential themes. Now the sequel, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach, aims to expand the unique social gameplay ideas while diving deeper into its eccentric narratives and characters.
During Sony’s February 2024 State of Play stream, fans finally got an extended look at Death Stranding 2 in a new trailer. Not only does it confirm Norman Reedus’ return as Sam Bridges, but also reveals the sequel’s 2025 release window across juicy story and gameplay tidbits.
Let’s break down everything the exhilarating new Death Stranding 2 trailer tells us about the upcoming title. Strap on your strand-tethered cardboard boxes and baby cradles – it’s going to be another weird ride.
Death Stranding 2 Release Date & Platforms
The State of Play trailer concludes by confirming Death Stranding launches in 2025 as a PlayStation 5 exclusive (at least initially). Creator Hideo Kojima‘s original game eventually came to PC years later, so PlayStation console exclusivity likely lasts 6-12 months again. However, with Microsoft now partnering with Kojima Productions on the Xbox horror title ‘Overdose,’ availability for Xbox Series X/S seems probable down the road too.
Death Stranding 2 Trailer Story Details
Death Stranding 2’s announcement trailer reveals that set after the events of the first game, Sam Bridges now works for an organization called ‘Drawbridge.’ The civilian group has a mysterious benefactor intent on further expanding the continental chiral network Sam pioneered. However, the trailer narrator alludes that new threats tied to the ‘Death Stranding’ phenomenon still endanger humanity from extinction – forcing Sam to embark reluctantly on another journey to save humankind. Intriguingly, the narrator questions at the end if restoring worldwide connections was the right course after all – suggesting Sam may investigate nobler aims beyond communication this time.
Returning Characters
Alongside Norman Reedus’ Sam Bridges, other Death Stranding alumni spotted in the trailer include:
- Fragile (Léa Seydoux)
- Deadman (Guillermo del Toro)
Their presence hints we’ll learn more details about what transpired in America following the UCA’s formation. However, the real shock comes in revealing Troy Baker’s terrorist Higgs has returned as some kind of crazed robo-samurai antagonist. His new penchant for eccentric face paint and guitar weapons leaves plenty of questions about what happened after his prior defeat.
New Characters
Aside from new crew members aboard Sam’s mobile base, the trailer debuts a disturbing hand puppet he carries everywhere. The doll appears to move at a low frame-rate, suggesting unusual origins that may connect to emerging threats. Elsewhere, the brief story references Bridges working with other ‘companions unnamed. Kojima undoubtedly has more celebrity cameos up his sleeves waiting to shock fans down the road.
Death Stranding 2 Gameplay Improvements
Considering Death Stranding 2 releases exclusively on PlayStation 5, fans expected Kojima Productions to double down on DualSense controller features. However, the State of Play trailer focuses more on environmental scope. There’s a huge diversity of new locations on display, suggesting more open-world exploration variety compared to the first game’s ruined Americas. We spot arctic tundras, towering waterfalls, desert archaeology sites, and other fresh backdrops to navigate.
Underwater traversal also features briefly, hinting swimming mechanics may finally feature alongside climbing enhancements. These additions would considerably expand player mobility choices beyond packages. The trailer concludes with Sam collapsing into a strange oil puddle – whether a new navigation tool or an emerging supernatural threat is unclear. But it exemplifies Kojima’s desire to keep innovating bizarre features that influence the core social delivery concept.
Death Stranding 2’s Narrative Premise
Hearing the sequel’s full name also clues players into potential themes: Death Stranding 2: On the Beach shares its subtitle with Nevil Shute’s famed 1957 post-apocalyptic novel. The book explores a couple awaiting the inevitable nuclear fallout in Australia, reflecting on society and human nature. Such ideas of mortality acceptance mirror Death Stranding’s pervading tone, hinting Kojima wants to explore the original’s provocative existentialist subject matter from new angles.
With Sam directly questioning past actions that united society via the chiral network, personal redemption also looms largely. Can such connections transcend divisions given humanity’s uglier instincts in the end? The narrator ponders if wider relating was ultimately a positive force – or a ‘haunting mistake’ enabling harm. These shades of gray mesh perfectly with Kojima’s penchant for flawed protagonists. Sam proved an imperfect hero often unwillingly coaxed towards greatness before. Now pursuing shadows of former friendship fueled by guilt promises lots of juicy characterization ahead.
Combine such introspection with crazed villains like robotic retro-punk Higgs, and Death Stranding 2 has brainy emotional drama bursting alongside surreal action.
The Wait Goes On…
As veterans of Hideo Kojima productions know well, tantalizing early trailers are just the start of long promotional cycles promising regular teases. With Death Stranding 2 not released until 2025, expect small world expansion and mechanic reveals periodically to keep anticipation simmering, with some signature sly misdirection along the way. Yet the first true look already demonstrates amazing potential. A beguiling expansion of Death Stranding’s eccentric post-civilization universe is inbound, one pondering human connection’s light and dark sides with plenty of oddballs in tow.
Stay tuned here as we bring you every update while counting down the days to embark On the Beach with Sam Bridges once more!
